512 FACTORS IN NATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 



16,000,000 lbs. of mohair, valued at £687,635, were exported 

 from the Union, and calculating on the pro rata basis, it is evident 

 that the values of Native wools and mohair must be in the neigh- 

 bourhood of £400,000, not allowing- for the Native stock in the 

 Colony proper, which would be additional. 



(4) Disease. — The place of disease, too, in the Native 

 economy is a factor to be reckoned with, especially in this country, 

 which seems to welcome with enthusiasm every possible scourge ! 

 The rinderpest in 1897 and thereabouts wrought havoc through- 

 out the length and breadth of the land, sweeping off, it is said, as 

 much as Qo per cent, of the total cattle, thus inflicting staggering 

 losses upon the Natives and reducing very considerably the total 

 wealth of the native poi^ulation, which was mainly invested in 

 stock. The East Coast Fever in 1910-1914 repeated the process 

 in toto. 



Moreover, the Matabele War of 1896 was directly traceable 

 to the former visitation, for the Government adopted heroic 

 measures, and taking the view that in any case the cattle in given 

 areas would all perish, ordered that all the cattle in those areas 

 were to be shot, so as to stay the scourge by making it impossible 

 for it to spread further. Such a i)roceeding the Natives could 

 not understand, and the consequent restlessness led eventuallv to 

 rebellion, necessitating a lengthy campaign. As a matter of fact, 

 in the later visitation, trouble, essentiallv similar in character, 

 found expression amongst Transkeian Natives. The Natives 

 were ordered to dip their cattle, and being very much opposed to 

 such procedure, the result came very near to disaster. It certainly 

 entailed no slight expense, for the military forces were called 

 out and held in readiness in case of emergency — and this happened 

 not once only. To a lesser, and yet to an appreciable extent, 

 other diseases, such as the horse-sickness which periodicallv 

 sweeps various districts, and gal-lam-sickte, which does such 

 damage to the small stock, come within the purview of this 

 section, operating with deadlv effect to retard development. 



(5) Drouc/hf. — Then, again, drought i§ a consideration which 

 cannot be neglected in this connection, related as it is to the other 

 factors already enumerated. Tf a serious drought is experienced 

 the oasturage dries awav under the scorching sun. and the ^^attle 

 having no pasturage along the roadside, the whole transport 

 system is hung up. and the whole business of the territory is 

 paralysed. Then, too, the cattle lose condition and fall an easy 

 prev to disease. Since there is no rain there can be no nlouehing, 

 and if a suitable shower does come along, so manv cattle have 

 either died off, or are in low condition, that onlv a relativelv small 

 amount can be finished in the limited time. Avith the nett result 

 that much less land than usual is oloughed. while the continued 

 drousfht eives the borer-worm a chance to establish himself and 

 to comolete the fell work of eatino- at the heart of the nlant until 

 it is entirelv destroved. Thus ^vholp fields nerish. and the harvest 

 is considerablv reduced. Tn Kaffirland. where irrieation is not 

 known, and dry-land farming is not practised, the results year by 



